Fixture

 

As you may recall, Barry were described as being on a learning curve as they sought to find their feet in Division 2 rugby. For those lucky to have seen last saturdays cliffhanger away to second placed St Peters, it was obvious that they have learnt very quickly and are now a team with a good blend of youth and experience who play for each other .

The opening minutes saw the Rocks show their intentions as they spread the ball wide using their very speedy backline and Barry needed to be at their best defensively to thwart several attacks. Barry were incurring the wrath of the referee and conceding penalties, one of which led to the first points of the afternoon to put the Rocks ahead after 15 mins.

Barry were struggling for possession, but the little they had was used productively to get them into home territory.  Determined not to be outdone, Barry launched their own backs to test the home defence, and one such effort saw Brad White stopped short of the line but as the ball was recycled, the same man was on hand to crash over for a try wide out which together with a touchline conversion from Einan Scott gave Barry a 7-3 lead after 20 mins.

The Rocks had seen their plan to play an open game nullified by some tremendous first up tackling by the Barry defence and resorted to bringing their forwards into the game and were met by the same defiance forcing mistakes which gave Barry some eagerly needed possession and territory.

A chargedown put Barry on the attack and earned them a penalty for an intentional knock on, but from wide out the kick shaved the upright to the Rocks relief.

This seemed to jolt the Rocks into action and the Barry line was put under extreme pressure for some minutes during which penalties were conceded and finally a debatable

 yellow card.

Something had to give, and with a man short the Rocks finally found space on the outside to cross for a try which went unconverted, but gave them the lead.  The pressure continued 

and another score seemed likely as the scrum half broke on the blindside only to lose the ball in the act of crossing the line which brought the pulsating first half to a close.

Still with only seven forwards Barry stunned the Rocks at the scrum by driving them off their own ball and earning a penalty as the half opened allowing them to clear their lines.

Sensibly Barry were opting to play a territorial game and whilst this returned the possession to the Rocks they were unable break through due to the quality of the Barry defence, and some over elaboration on their part played right into Barry's hands.

The attacks continued from the Rocks, and they were rewarded with a simple penalty in front of the posts which somehow was missed.

The character of the Barry side shone through as they began to pressurise the Rocks up front earning them two penalties, which although not successful  from very difficult positions. With the bit between their teeth Barry forced the Rocks to defend during the next minutes and brought Dave Taylor and Luke O'Sullivan on as replacements.

At this stage the sides were well matched with both sides solid in defence limiting the attacking threat they both offered.

Following a yellow card for the home side Barry launched a series of attacks but were unable to find a way through but from a quick break the Rocks got within yards of the Barry line and  whilst the defence held firm the referee spotted an infringement in front of the posts to give them an easy penalty increasing the lead to 11-7 with only minutes to go.

From the kick off Barry went on the attack with Ashley Adams having come on for Tom Lee with Kyle Barros moving to scrum half.

A charge down by White was successfully recycled and spread wide but with the final pass not going to hand the chance was lost.

The drama however was not over as having been at sixes and sevens in their own 22 Barry somehow counter attacked and although initially halted the move spread to the left

for the ball to find O'Sullivan some 50m out, who mesmerised the Rocks defenders to cross for a great individual try which although unconverted gave Barry the lead at 12-11; a lead they were not to relinquish and a win their outstanding team performance richly deserved on the day.

This Barry performance should not be underestimated.  Playing against probably the best side they have faced this season the effort in both defence and attack was outstanding and must be applauded.  Captain James Hadfield has the boys playing for each other and the team ethic is their for all to see.

This sixth league win is perhaps more than we perhaps anticipated at this stage but onwards and upwards for next weekend when Abercynon are the visitors kick off 2.30pm.

Finally everyone is reminded that the Xmas Draw tickets must be returned as soon as possible and can be left at the Bar with Carol.

Don't forget that the Club Xmas Dinner is on the 19th Dec, details from John Williams who will no doubt tell you about the New Years Eve at the same time.

 

Team:  K Barros; D Provis, T Perry, B White, D Ryan; E Scott, T Lee; J Hollister, A Evans, L Ring; J Oaten, G Jones; O Poole, J Hadfield (c), H Jones

Replacements:  D Taylor, L O'Sullivan, A Adams, T Scott

Sub not used:  S Vidal